Watee



Nlayl29, 1923.

' W. S. ELLiOTT WATER HEA'T'ING AND DEGASIFYING APPARATUS Filed March 31 1915 2 sheets-sheet 1 Original lllllillu un n l. nnunwuu l..

avm.

M MMM ma@ mPv-U /W WITNESSES u, mg,

W. S. ELLOTT WATER HE''ING AND DEGASIFYING APPARATUS May 259,4 1923.

riginal Filed March 31, 1915 2 Sheets-Sheet 2' INVENTH WITNESSES Patented May 29, 1923.

WILLIAM S. ELLIOTT, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

WATER HEATING AND DEGASIFYING APPARATUS.

Original application filed March 31, 1915, Serial No. 18.268.

To all whom 'it may confiera Be it ,known that I, IVILLMM 9i. lilcmor'r, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Im- ]novenient in later Heating and Degasifying Apparat'us,ot` which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part oi this specification, in which- Figure l is a View partly in side elevation and partly in section, and largely diagram matic, ot one form oi apparatus .for treating the feedwater.

Figure 2 is a diagram oit a portion oi the apparatus, showing a modiication, and

Figure 3 is a diagram showing one form of a complete system for using the treated liquid.

My `invention has more particular relation to a steam generating system, although portions of the apparatus embodying the invention may be used for other purposes.

One object of my invention is to provide apparatus of novel and etlicient character whereby the feed water used for the generation ot steam may be freed to a maximum degree i'rom the air and other gases contained or dissolved therein. It is a well known fact that the air and other gases contained in steam and water causes boiler corrosion, and also corrosion of the valves, p ipes7 fittings, and other metal parts with which the water or steam come in contact.

In carrying out .my invention, the :feed water or other liquid to be treated is admitted into the receiver, preferably at a relatively l'iigh temperature. A suicient degree of vacuum is maintained in the receiver so that the liquid on entering the receiver is caused to have a. violent ebullition o't iiashing;r action. This causes the liquid to be thoroughly broken up, whereby the contained air and other gases can be very etfectively extracted by the vacuum action. The liquid is then preferably caused to flow downwardly through' the receiver in a distributed or film-like condition so that during its passage all portions thereof are subjected to the vacuum action. The result is a very complete separation oi' the air and other gases. The pressure and consequently the temperature in the receiver is lowered by Divided and this application led March 29,

Serial No. 158,238.

any suitable means, such as a vacuum pump connected thereto. A condenser is preferably interposed between the vacuum pump and the receiver for condensing such hot vapors as are condensable before they reach the pump. The heat given. up in this condenser may be used for the preliminary or partial heating of the liquid to be treated.

Inasmuch as the temperature of the water is lowered in the receiver by the action just described, I iind it advisable before utilizn `ing this water in the boiler or generator to pass it through a reheater.

The nature of my invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated one form oi apparatus for carrying out they invention, and which will now be described, it being premised, however, that the particular apparatus shown is illustrative only and that the invention is capable of various other embodiments within the scope of the appended claims.

In these drawings the numeral 2 designates a suitable heating tank or receptacle intov which the liquid to be treated is conducted by means oi' the supply pipe 3. This pipe is shown as entering the upper portion of the heater at the central portion thereof, and is branched as indicated at 4;, these branches supplying the spray pans These pans are shown as having overflow or spray troughs 6 which discharge onto a suitable arrangement of distributors T. Pipe 3 is provided with a control valve S having actuating connections 9 with a iioat l0 within the heater whereby a substantially constant level oit the water is maintained.. ll designates an overiiow chamber within the heater and l2 a discharge pipe there itor. This chamber lll not only takes care ot any overflow which may occur in case the level should 'tor any reason rise beyond its normal, but it also takes care of the entrainment 'from the steam supply pipe 13. The latter opens into an ofi-set portion i4, ot the heater 2 and is arranged to discharge against a separator platel, the drip trein which talls into the chamber ill. The pur pose of the separator 15 is to separate out any oil which may be entrained with the steam in pipe 13. The steam delivered by this pipe is employed for the purpose of heating the water in the tank, although anyv f by a pipe 17 with the discharge'of the heater 2 and which constitutes an evaporing chamber. The pipe enters the upper portion of the receiver and the latter is provided with spray pans 18 and distributors 19 similar to those in the heater. Any other suitable `means may, however, be provided for re ceiving the water as it enters thereceiver. 20 is a control valve for the pipe 17, and 21 is a control oat therefor. '22 is the actuating connection 'between the 'float and the valve. 23is an offtake pipe forthetreated water leading to a pump 24.

The receiver 16 is connected witha. vacuum pump 25 through acondenser 26 by means of the pipes 27 and 28. The condenser 26 has a water supply connection at 27 discharging into the bottom chamber 30, a bank of heating tubes 2 9 connecting this chamber 30 Withan upper chamber 30". The pipe 8 is'conne'cted to the outlet'of this chamber 30a. 31 is a sediment'discharge or `clean-out connection for the receiver.

The operation is as follows: Tater entering `the condenser 26 from the pipe 27 B passes upwardly through'the tubes 29 to the chamber 30", and thence into the heater 2 by wa-y ofthe pipe 3. vIt'is'bro'ught to the desired temperature in this Aheater and is then discharged into the receiver having a pressure and temperature llower than that vor" the heater, or the receiver may be one in which a partial vacuum is maintained by the action of the pump 25. The effect of'this vacuum upon the water entering the receiver is to cause it to boil since 'the pressure in the receiver is lower than the pressure corresponding to the temperature of the liquid immediately before it enters the receiver. By mainy taining a lower pressure or a `sufiicient degree of vacuum `in this receiver the water entering it is immediately subjected to a violent boiling action and a part of it is rapidly converted into vapor. The water vapor and other gases 'thus liberated by the boiling are drawn ofi' through the condenser 26 bythe action of the pump 25; and in passing over the bank of tubes 29 impart a very considerable degree of heat to the water contained in said tubes before it enters the 'heater 2. At the vsame time, by reason of the cooling action of the water in the pipes 29 a large percentage of the condensable vapors are condensed, and the liquid of condensation is drawn 'off by 'the action of a suitable pump 32 'throu h 'the pipe 33, or otherwise disposed of.V or instance, instead o the pump 32, I may (as shown in `Figure 2)y elevate thev condenser, 'as indicated at 26a to a vheight 'above the heater 2n such as vto create a head of water inthe U-shaped tube B4 leadi'ilgint'o the heater 2 suilic'ient to discharge the water from the condenser into the heater, against the action of the vacuum in the condenser.

In Figure 3 I have shown diagrammatically an arrangement of boiler, turbine and condenser apparatus for utilizing the treated water. In this apparatus the pump 24, before referred to, delivers the purified water through the pipe 35 into a boiler 36. The steam generated in this boiler 'is conducted by the pipe 37 to the turbine 3S or to any other steam-using appliance. The ex haust of this turbine or 'other appliance is connected by the pipe 39 with a condenser 40,'whi'ch may be of any well known type.

41 designates a reheater through which the water discharged from the receiver by the pump 24 preferably passes on its Way to the boiler or generator 36. This heater may be of any suitable or well known character. As shown, it is of the same construction as the condenser 26, before described, the water being 'forced upwardly through the bank of heating tubes by the pump 24; while steam is circulated around said tubes. This steam may be supplied from anyl suitable source, as by a branch 13'* from t e pipe 18 which suppliesthe heater 2. The outlet of the reh'eater 41 is connected by a pipe 42 with a. boiler or generator 36. 43 is a ump by means of which the water of condensation may bc withdrawn from the steam chamber of the reheater 41.

While the employment of the reheutcr rrquires the use of additional' steam, yet this use is largely offset by the fact that a *very considerable percentage of the heat lost in the receiver 16 has previously been utilized in the condenser 26 in preheating the feed water.

On account of the removal of the air from the water in the manner described, the steam reaches lthe condenser 40 in a condition practically free from air, rovided there is no leakage in the pipe line Vtweeen the condenser and turbine.

. VVit-h the old condensers employing a large dry pump, all of the air and other gases must be extracted by the use of very large vacuum air pumps, working against a` high vacuum. By the employment of my system, the dry pump attlic main condenser needbe only of a small percent of the capacity of that heretofore required, as a large percentage of the air has already been removed from the liquid at a vacuum pressure which is but a small percentage of that employed in theunuin condenser. This results in great economy in the operation of vthe system. 'In vactual operation I have *found uthat under economical commercial operating conditions my rinvention will effect a separation of ninety to ninety-eight percent ofthe contained air and gases. These figures apply to substantially all simple gases which are llll lill

found dissolved in natural air as a mixture or constituent of a mixture, with the exception of carbon dioxide. The latter is sepa rated to as complete an extent as boiling it for a limited time is able to accomplish.

My invention also ieduces all soluble carbonatos dissolved in the liquid in the 'form oi bicarboiiates from the state of solubility to that of insolubility.

A -further advantage oi my invention is, that in its employment the slight heat losses which occur are more than recovered by the rain in the relative poiver required to operate the large vacuum pumps heretofore required in the operation of condensers, to say nothing; ot the gain due to the increased vacuum in the condensers.

It will be readily understood that the form of the various apparatus described can be Widely varied` and that any suitable forni of heater and receiver can be used. vWhere the Water to be treated is already at the proper temperature the heater 2 may be entirely omitted and the Water conducted directly to the receiver, and various other changes can be made.

The present application is a division oit my pending; application, Serial No. 18,268, filed March 31, 1915; and is also a continuation in part ofl my application Serial No. 93,625, filed April 26, 1916,

l claim:

1. .ln apparatus for deaerating liquid, a i'eceiver having' al liquid space and a steam space, a service connection leading' trom the liquid space o'l' said receiver to convey sul stantially ail-free `liquid therefrom to a point of utilization of such liquid, automatic means lor supplying to said receiver suhstantially Wholly in accord with the demands o'i said service connection liquid Which is at a temperature higher than the temperature in said receiver and which has a substantially constant y dillerence in temperature thcreover` and means connected to said receiver for'-nniiutaining said substantially constant difference in temperature.

2. ln apparatus for deas/eating` liquid, a receiver having a liquid space and a steam space. a service connection leading 'from the liquid space el' said receiver to convey substantially air-tree liquid therefrom to a point of utilization ot such liquid, automatic means `tor supplying to said receiver substantially wholly in accord vvith the de mands ot said service connection liquid which is at a temperature higher than the temperature in said receiver and which has a substantially constant difference in teinperature thereover. and a condenser connect ed to said receiver for maintaining' said suhstantially constant diierence i in temperature. y i

3. ln apparatus tor deaeratinpf liquidI` a receiver having' liquid space and a steam space, a. service connection leading from the liquid space of said receiver to convey substantially air-free liquid therefrom to a point of utilization of such liquid, automatic means :tor supplying to said receiver substantially Wholly in accord with the demands of said service connection liquid which is at a temperature higher than the temperature in said receiver and which has a substantially constant dillerence in teinperature thereover7 and means adapted to recover the heat released in said receiver, said last mentioned means maintaining said substantially constant diilerence iii temperature.

4. In apparatus for deaerating liquid, a receiver havinga liquid space and a steam space, a service connection leadingV 'from the liquid space of said receiver to convey suhstantiailly air-l:'ree liquid therefrom to a point of utilization of such liquid in a prac tically continuous manner, automatic means tor supplying to said receiver substantially Wholly in accord With the demands of said service connection liquid and heat and for feeding the entering; liquid through the atmosphere in steam space of the receiver, and means connected to said receiver for withdrawing air and vapor therefrom, the parts oi" said deacrating' apparatus being correlated and arranged to maintain temperature and pressure conditions in the receiver to cause the liquid to release substantially all of its contained air.

5. In apparatus 'for deaerating liquid, a receiver having); a liquid space and a` steam space, a service connection leading from the liquid space of said receiver to convey substantially air-tree liquid therefrom to a point 4of utilization ot such liquid, automatic means :for supplyingif to said receiver substantially Wholly in accord with thc demands of said service connection liquid and heat and tor feeding; the enteringlr liquid through the atmosphere in the steam space of said receiver, and means including a condenser, connected to said receiver iler Withdraiving air and vaporl therefrom, the parts of said deaei'atina` apparatus being; correlated and arranged to maintain temperature and pressure conditions in the receiver to cause the liquid to release substantially all ot its contained air.

6. ln apparatus for defieintingl liquid, a receiver having' a liquid space and a steam space, a service connection leading;b `from the liquid space of said receiver to convey suhstantially air-free liquid therefrom to a `point of' utilization of such liquid in a practically continuous manner, automatic means for supplying to said receiver sulfistantially wholly in 4accord with the demands oic said service connection liquid and'heat and lor ieedmg the entering liquid through l inosphere in the steam space ol: said ree .Y

and means including a condenser coiu'iected to said vreceiver for -vvlthdraivmg air and vapor therefrom. the parts ofsaid deaeraltingapparatus boing correlated Vand arranged to 'maintain temperature and pressure conditions in the receivern to-cause the liquid to release substantially all fof its contained air, said condenser' operating'to recover' the heat of the vapor released in said receiver.

7, ln apparatus `for deaerating liquid, a receiver havingr a liquid space Aand a steam space. a seri/'ice connection leading from the liquid space of said receiver to conveyin a practically continuous manner substantially air-tree liquid therefrom to a point `o'r utilization of such liquid, means for supplying liquid to the receiver and passing the liquid in a divided state through the steam space lof the receiver, the liquid feeding means operating substantially Wholly .in accord with the demands of saidservice connection, and means for positively Withdrawing air and `vapor from `the receiver and discharging the uncondensed portion thereof, the receiver being closed against inlet of yfree air, the parts `of said deaera'ting apparatus being correlated and arranged to maintain temperature and pressure conditions in the receiver to cause the liquid to release substantially all its dissolved air.

8. In lapparatus lfor deaerating liquid, the combination with a condenser, through which the liquid to beldeaerated flows, a heater. a receiver in which Ithe air contained in the liquid is continuously released from the liquid, and connections arranged to pass all of the liquid, which flows through the condenser, through the heater and the receiver in the order named, of a 'service connection conveying substantially air-free liquid from the receiver to a point of 'utilization of such Vli uid, and means for controlling` the rate o i'eed to the receiver substantially wholly in accordance with the demands of said service connection.

9. ln apparatus for deaerating liquid, a receiver having a liquid space and a steam space, a service connection leading from the .liquid space of said receiver to convey .in a continuous manner substantially air-free liquid therefrom to a point of utilization of such liquid, means for supplying.r liquid to the receiver and passing the liquid in a divided state through the steam space of vthe receiver. the liquid feeding means operating substantially wholly in accord with the demands of said service connection, aheat interchanger connected 'to the steam space of the receiver and arranged to Withdraw air and vapor therefrom, and means yfor Withdrawing air from the heat interchanger, the receiver being closed against inlet of free air. the parts of said deaerating apparatus being correlated and arranged to maintain ltemperature andpres'sure conditions 'in the Momes receiver to cause the liquid to release substantially all its dissolved air.

10. A receiver y"having an air outlet, means for 'feeding liquid thereto in a continuous manner, means for supplying heat to an amount to change the phase of said liquid to a percentage sufficient to release substantially a'll `of the air contained therein, means for recovering at least portion of the heat released in the receiver, a, pi e system arranged to use substantially au' free water, and a closed conduit connecting the receiver to said system to convey substantially airfree water from the receiver to a. point of utilization of such liquid in a continuous 111211111812 11. In apparatus for deaerating liquid, a receiver having a liquid space and a steam space. a service connection leading` from the liquid space ot said receiver to convey suhstantially air-free liquidtherefrom to a oint of utilization of such liquid in a practically continuous manner, automatic means for supplying to said receiver substantiallyI Wholly in accord with the demands of said service connection liquid and heat and for feeding the` entering liquid through the atmosphere in steam space of the receiver, and means connected to'said receiver for continuously withdrawing air and vapor therefrom, the parts of said deaerating apparatus being correlated and arranged to maintain temperature and pressure conditions in the receiver vto cause the liquid to release suhstantially all of its contained air.

l2. In apparatus for deaeratinh"r liquid, a receiver having a liquid space and a steam space. a service connection leading.r from the liquid space of said receiver to convey substantially air-free liquid therefrom to a point of utilization of such liquid in a practically continuous manner, automatic means for supplying to said receiver substantially wholly in accord with the demands of said service connection liquid and heat and for feeding the lentering liquid through the atmosphere in steam space of the receiver. and means including a surface condenser connected to said receiver for withdrawing 'the air and vapor therefrom. the cooling liquid for said condenser beingsubsequently passed to the receiver. the parts of said deaerating apparatus being correlated and arranged to maintain temperature and pressure conditions in the receiver to cause thc liquid to release substantially all of its contained air.

13. In apparatus for deaerating` liquid. a. receiver having `a liquid space 'and a steam space. a service connection leading from the liquid space of said receiver to convey substantially air-free liquid therefrom to a point of utilization of such liquid in a practically continuous manner. automatic means for supplying to vsaid receiver substantially lltl Wholly in accord with the demands of said service connection liquid and heat and for feeding the entering liquid through the atmosphere in steam space of the receiver, including a condenser, through Which liquid supplied to the apparatus passes and Con-4 nected to said receiver for withdrawing air und vapor therefrom and preventing it from contaminating the cooling liquid passing through the condenser, the parts of said deaerating apparatus being correlated and am ranged to maintain temperature and pres sure conditions in the receiver to cause the liquid to release substantially all of its Contained air.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto Set my hand.

WILLIAM S, ELLIOTT.

Witnesses:

J. T. MATTERN, HUGO BERGQUIST. 

